How to Make it to 30+ Kellie Conrad, Cisco Systems Session Length: 1 Hour There is a how to for everything, except for life in your 20's. Women in our 20's face unprecedented challenges in an age where we are told all that matters is how "successful" we are in business. We are told the only way to get there is to pay astronomical amounts of money for higher education. From preschool to graduating with an undergraduate degree in the US, most people follow the exact same education and life path. The only major differences occur in what pair of shoes, extracurricular activities, and friends we choose. All your life you are told the golden ticket to the 100k, fulfilling, and world changing job is waiting for you at the end of the college stage. Once you get that diploma, you will be fine. My girlfriends and I are all well on our way to making it to 30 and beyond. We have learned several lessons along the way. We all struggle and our mistakes are universal and can be shared, learned from, and prevented for others. The most valuable lessons to learn in your 20's: 1. How and why to get into technology 2. How to thrive in a man’s world without becoming one 3. How to stay in technology and work your way up the jungle gym 4. How to avoid, get out of, and stay out of personal debt